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National Play Day
PHOTOCALL: Photographers are invited to
capture national Playday on 3rd August at Pennington Flash from 12.30pm
onwards. Contact Chris Dunbar on 01942 486937.
Football Legend backs National Play Day
As Britain gears up to host the 2012 Olympics, national Playday
organisers The Children’s Society and the Children’s Play Council are
turning the spotlight to children who enjoy playing outdoors. Children
and young people in Wigan and Leigh now need to be given the time, space
and the best facilities to play out. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s
Play development team are determined to provide that opportunity to all
young people in the borough.
To mark national Playday on Wednesday 3rd August, the Trust’s Play
development team have organised a full day of free play activities at
Pennington Flash. Starting at 12.30pm and aimed at children aged twelve
and under, the day will include organised sporting activities and group
games, an inflatable assault course, bouncy castles, arts and crafts and
parachute fun!
Sports personality and father-of-four, Gary Lineker, is supporting
Playday. He said, "Our children should be fit and healthy now more than
ever, not only to compete against the world's top athletes but also to
help them grow and thrive. Fitness and well-being starts with play at an
early age. Children across the country deserve the best opportunities to
play and have fun. That's what Playday is all about".
The 18th annual national Playday, sponsored by the British Toy and Hobby
Association (BTHA), will give families all over the country the
opportunity to celebrate Britain’s Olympic-bid victory and this year's
event theme of 'Fit for Play?’
With growing social concerns about diet and fitness, this year’s Playday
theme will highlight the condition of children’s local areas; many which
parents and children alike say are simply not fit for play. Evidence
points to physical inactivity as a contributing factor to the rapid rise
in childhood obesity and identifies active, outdoor play as a key part
of the solution.
Debbie Freeman, the Trust’s Community Regeneration Manager for Play
said, “It is very important for a child’s long term health and fitness
that they enjoy being active and participating. The best way for
children to develop these skills is through play. Play is very important
both physically and socially to a child’s long term well being. Anyone
who comes along to Pennington Flash on August 3rd will have fun and see
how important Play really is.”
For more information about national Play Day and how to get involved
please go to www.playday.org.uk. For more information about the
Pennington Flash event or other play activities in the Wigan Borough
please call Diane Winnard on 01942 870032.
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NOTES TO EDITORS: For more information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org.
For more information on national Play Day, please contact: The
Children’s Society, Nicholas Breakspeare, 020 7841 4422.
Playday is co-ordinated by the Children’s Play council in partnership
with The Children’s Society. Now in its 18th year, the national event
involves over 100,000 children in Playday events organised by local
authorities and local people across the UK. For more information about
Playday events visit www.playday.org.uk
The Children’s Society is a national children’s charity working with
over 50,000 children and teenagers every year, in 90 towns and cities.
It works in partnership with communities, schools and families. It
helps: children at risk on the streets; children in trouble with the
law; young refugees; children with disabilities. It is a voluntary
organisation of the Church of England. Visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk
The Children’s Play Council (CPC) is an alliance of organisations
working to promote the importance of play and stimulate better play
opportunities. Visit www.ncb.org.uk/cpc
British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) is the UK’s trade association
for toy manufacturers, distributors and suppliers, accounting for 95% of
toys sold in the UK. Its main functions include maintaining the highest
industry standards and representing the toy industry to public bodies
and government. Visit www.btha.co.uk
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